Why Liverpool are lining up Barcola’s perfect partner

With Mohamed Salah no longer a Liverpool player, Jurgen Klopp’s famous frontline is no more at Anfield.

Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino both play their football in the Gulf region, and Salah, now 34 years old, may well join them in the coming weeks, opening up a new chapter at this late stage.

With Andoni Iraola now at the helm, Liverpool are looking toward a new era, but they are going to need to add some more firepower to the squad, with Alexander Isak misfiring last season and Hugo Ekitike sidelined until the end of the calendar year.

FSG have a plan. Victor Munoz has already been signed from Osasuna for £34.5m, but Liverpool have their eye on a bigger fish, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola in their sights.

Liverpool in talks to sign France World Cup star

A deal for Yan Diomande is off the cards: the RB Leipzig winger wants to sign for PSG. However, by adding him to the ranks, the French giants could nudge Barcola to the exit, with Liverpool and Arsenal for a straight shootout.

The 23-year-old has played a key role in creating a dynasty under Luis Enrique’s management, scoring 34 goals and supplying 28 assists across PSG’s past two title-winning seasons.

He has played in each of Les Bleus’ World Cup games so far, but he’s not the only Frenchman on Iraola’s radar.

Liverpool do need to maintain the emphasis on signing new forwards, but other departments need work too, with right-back an area lacking depth right now.

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are among the clubs who have been contacted by representatives eager to drum up interest in Barcelona’s Jules Kounde this summer.

The 27-year-old is also on Arsenal and Manchester City’s radar, while Chelsea have a historical interest after coming close to signing the then Sevilla defender in 2022.

There has been a reduction in the La Blaugrana’s £70m asking price, with Kounde now priced at £55m. This could be an opportunity that Liverpool cannot afford to pass them by, with uncertainty at right-back a threat to Iraola’s first season in charge.

Why Kounde should join Barcola at Liverpool

Liverpool have two right-backs in Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, but both have struggled with injuries over the past year, exposing a gaping weakness in Arne Slot’s system.

Kounde, who is versatile and balanced in his wingplay, has been hailed as “one of the best defenders in the world” by his former coach Xavi.

Liverpool have established concrete interest in Barcola, and given that Munoz has already arrived, and it doesn’t seem likely that Cody Gakpo will leave, even after a disappointing year and with Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit,

Barcola could do with such a balanced fore behind him at Anfield. At the World Cup, Kounde has completed 100% of his dribbles and has won five duels per game on average, with a 67% success rate there.

Liverpool lacked a strong and secure presence at right-back last year, often calling upon Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as stop-gap options. Salah, moreover, has lacked the physicality and athleticism needed further upfield, and Barcola and Kounde’s dual presence could bear dividends for an outfit in transition there.

Kounde and Barcola have developed quite the connection for Les Bleus, and it’s one that FSG are eager to explore ahead of the new season.

If Liverpool do sign the PSG forward, it feels likely that he will spend some time out on the right, and there, Kounde would help set him on his way.